Sand Creek Post & Beam and the Majestic Theatre in Wayne are sponsoring a Mother's Day event at the theatre on Sunday, May 8.
Beginning at 2 p.m. the Northeast Area Jazz Ensemble will be performing a Big Band Jazz Concert, which is free to the public.
All moms in attendance will receive a free rose.
Northeast Area Jazz Ensemble (NAJE) has been in existence since 1980. It was started by the late Jim Boullion, who was a longtime Band director at Northeast Community College.
It is a traditional big band with five trumpets, four trombones, five saxophones, and a rhythm section of piano, bass, and drums. The group meets weekly to rehearse and plan performances around the area. All concerts are performed with the idea that donations will be collected for music scholarships at Northeast Community College.
The members of the group are all volunteers and no one gets paid. These volunteers come from all walks of life including doctors, dentists, engineers, teachers (college, middle school and high school), and retired people. They just all share a love of music in general and jazz music in particular.
Among the members are three Wayne State College music instructors, Dr. Josh Caulkin, Dr. Karl Kolbeck and Kathi Angeroth. A number of the other members are Wayne State College graduates.
NAJE can boast four original members who still perform, while only three people have actually led the group in its 36 year history.
"This Mother's Day concert is being sponsored by Sand Creek Post and Beam, so admission is free and open to the public. The group will be performing songs from the Duke Ellington Library, the Count Basie Library, the Buddy Rich Library, and "standards" such as Indiana, and Bye, Bye Blackbird," said Kevin McLouth, music instructor at Northeast Community College who serves as director of the group.
"We would love to fill the house on Sunday and encourage everyone to attend. If you like music, jazz music, good jazz music, or just want a little something different and special; I heartily recommend stopping by and checking out the program," he added.
